(in the example on the right right, an annulet has replaced one of 5 ermine spots)

The annulet:

Arms of Norfolk & Suffolk (i.e. East Anglia) Blennerhassett families are often charged with an annulet, for difference. The annulet is a mark of cadency used to indicate a fifth son or descent from a fifth son. In this case the fifth son was Ralph de Blenerhayset, Esquire, of Carlisle & Great Orton, Co.Cumberland (ancestor of Blennerhassett of Norfolk, Suffolk, Co.Fermanagh & Dublin) who in 1423 married Joan de Lowdham (b.c1409/10 d.20-Jun-1501), a 14 year old heiress to the manors of Loudham, Frenze & Kelvedon in East Anglia. At the time of this marriage Joan was already a widow, having as a child married in 1422 or earlier to Thomas de Heveningham, who died 1422.

Blennerhassett arms in East Anglia,

charged with annulet for difference,

indicating descent from a 5th son

in heraldry the dolphin, king of fish, may be shown in these attitudes:

This is a rare instance of the early form of Blennerhassett arms, displayed without a chevron.

The chevron has appeared on all Blennerhasett arms since 1390. the chevron may perhaps have been added to differentiate the family of a younger son at a time before Marks of Cadency had become standard to indicate such differences. There can be little doubt that the arms shown here, without a chevron, are the earlier form.

John de Blenerhasset of Carlisle, Co.Cumberland. Some sources make this John identical with John the son of Alan de Blenerhayset (No.2), but this cannot be so. John could be perhaps the father or brother of Alan.

- the arms without a chevron (here c1398) are surely the original form but they appear to have co-existed with those bearing the chevron (the earliest known is dated 25-May-1390 - see No.2).

Every instance since this time includes the chevron.

This is the earliest known representation of the Blennerhassett coat-of-arms,

illustrated with description in French in Thomas Jenyn's Book, Queen Margaret's version

a bound Ms. volume Ordinary or Book of Arms now in the British Library Dept.of Manuscripts,

The seal survives in good condition and is illustrated in [TCWAA vol.6 1883 pp.317-8]

[A2A] describes the chevron on this seal, in error, as having five "escallops" instead of "ermine spots"

3.

"Gules, three dolphins Argent"

John de Blenerhayset, Co.Cumberland (temp. Richard II, 1377-1399).

the source for this may perhaps be identical with 2. above

4.

"ermine a dolphin embowed"

I have not seen this, but seems to be another rare instance of the Blennerhassett arms shown without the chevron.

Seal on a deed of Robert de Blenerhayset, Carlisle, Co.Cumberland (18 Richard II, 1395/6) [HUDDLESTON p.28]

5.

"(Gules) a chevron (ermine), between three dolphins embowed (Argent)"

various combinations of the above description, in each instance some words in ( ) may be missing

* Tile with Blennerhassett arms, initials J M (John & Mary) and date 1563, at Barsham Old Hall, Barsham, Co.Suffolk. This was the home of John Blennerhassett (b.c1515 d.1573), Treasurer and one of the chief household advisers to the 3rd & 4th Dukes of Norfolk, and his wife Mary Echingham